Gary May win, but Rob may have the trophy!

Rob Elsmere didn’t merely trash his bike on Saturday – he broke it in half!
A huge qualifying bin at Graham Hill bend saw Rob’s quest for a win in Thundersport GP1 off to a lousy start at Brands Hatch.
But the great atmosphere that’s been developing in the Thundersport GB paddock prevailed – Elsmere’s pit crew were inundated with commiserations and offers of help, and soon the stricken Suzuki was being inspected, propped up on Rob Hoyles’ stands.
Sadly, any amount of Airfix glue and tank tape was to no avail – the two halves would never be one again.
Step forward, Marie Hodgson.
Marie had entered Thundersport GP1, Thundersport 600, and the Bikesport News Ladies race, and had brought her R1 and R6 to Brands.
But her soft heart melted at the sight of the Elsmere ponytail, drooping in despair, so she offered to lend him her R1.
Rob leapt at the deal, and, on the understanding that if he bent it, he would be £23,000 worse off, he duly wrung it’s neck in the Superpole race, enjoying a fantastic race-long duel with Gary May.
The lead swapped between the two, but it was Gary’s 600 that took the flag first, by just thirty-eight thousandths of a second!
At the end-of-day prize-giving in the Kentagon, Gary picked up his trophy for the win, and, in an amazingly generous gesture, promptly gave it to Rob, saying that he was full of admiration for Rob’s efforts on a borrowed bike…
Gary May, class act.

One good win deserves another…

Sunday saw another superb May/Elsmere battle in the first Thundersport GP1 race, with Gary May taking the win by four-tenths of a second.
But the second race was a nightmare for Gary.
Having earlier been beaten to the Thundersport 600 win by forty-eight thousandths of a second - a sensational performance by Jenny Tinmouth – Gary’s trusty Yamaha gave up the ghost on the first lap of the second GP1 race..
That left Mark Littler, Tony Keilty, and young Scott Kelly from Northern Ireland, to carry the fight to Rob Elsmere.
It was stirring stuff, but the Flying Ponytail, on the borrowed bike, squeaked it by two-tenths of a second, to take an immensely popular win.
Rob Elsmere, class act.

Over and ouch! Flossy flies…

Steff Waddelow’s weekend hadn’t even started, when she endured a high speed fall in Friday’s testing, at Clark Curve, breaking two bones in her wrist.
She could have been excused for packing her bags there and then, but instead, stayed at the circuit to cheer on her mates in the J & S Aprilia Superteens, and to enjoy the Bikesport News Ladies race.
She now starts an intensive period of treatment, which may just see her fit enough to race in front of the Moto GP crowds, at Donington.
All the best, Flossy!

You’re never too old…well, you may be, but John Hardwicke isn’t!

John Hardwicke is a Grandfather.
Just shy of his fifty-fifth birthday
He took up racing a mere three years ago, to share the thrills and excitement that his son, Sean, was enjoying.
On Saturday, at Brands, he was out on his Honda 600 in the Streetfighter B class, and pedalled it to his first-ever race win!
A second and a third on Sunday meant a full set of trophies to take home, a great reward for one of the largest smiles in the paddock.

And a big thumbs up, to:

Tony Coombs, the super-fast teenager, who came a right cropper on the exit of Graham Hill bend, flying through the air and landing slap on his back on the track in the Junior Powerbikes. The race-stopping incident saw him off to the Medical Centre, but, shaken and stirred, he still made it out for his second race, claiming points for twelfth in class, from a pit-lane start…
Brad Binder, a twelve year-old star of the future.
He came from South Africa to try the J & S Aprilia Superteen series, took a second and a seventh, and then suffered a bruising fall at Paddock.
He’ll be back…
William Dunlop. Despite his evident grief, produced two quality wins, in Thundersport GP3…
Clinton de Tarnowski, and Scott Kelly, both winners of special Holland-Martin awards, for their improved performances…
Jenny Tinmouth, looking every bit a winner…
Bev Stafford, sidecar passenger extraordinaire, and very classy grid girl…
Steve Day, a work-experience brolly-dolly for the Ladies race – hmm…
And, finally, Marie Hodgson – generosity, and true sporting spirit.